When WWE superstar The Undertaker defends his undefeated streak at WrestleMania 30 tonight, he can be sure of one fan cheering him on here in Merseyside.

Liverpool FC striker Daniel Sturridge raised a few people’s eyebrows when he revealed his childhood hero wasn’t one of the Premier League’s top strikers, but the American wrestling legend.

In an interview with sbtv.co.uk, the England forward said: “Football is what I’ve always wanted to do, but I did love wrestling when I was younger. Obviously it wasn’t a real thing I could’ve done.

“Undertaker was my favourite one because he was the scariest at the time, with his music, the darkness and the way he’d come out of the ring.

“I’ve got a picture recently where I’ve worn an outfit and someone has put me next to The Undertaker! And I’ve got a picture of myself wearing an Undertaker t-shirt from when I was a kid.”

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‘The Deadman’ faces his most dangerous WrestleMania opponent to date, Brock Lesnar, in the event at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.

Because of the time difference between Louisiana and Liverpool, the show starts at midnight in the UK and won’t finish until around 4am.

However, hundreds of WWE fans across Merseyside are expected to stay up to watch the drama unfold on Sky Box Office.

WWE superstar The Miz, who is set to compete in the 30-man Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal, admires the loyalty of the British fanbase.

He said: “I think it’s absolutely incredible that fans will stay up to see a show that’s second to none.

“I think it’s worth it to be completely honest with you and I don’t blame any fan for staying up really, really, late to watch the showcase of the immortals - the granddaddy of them all! This is what every WWE superstar looks forward to every single year.”

Staying up late to watch WWE programming is a regular effort for some UK viewers, as the company holds pay-per-view events once every month or so.

And while many will have a supply of energy drinks and cups of coffee to hand to help them last the distance, The Miz believes they will get by on adrenaline alone.

Wrestling fan Gareth Smith, 28, from Whiston, said he and his friends would be making a night of it.

He said: “There is no real secret to staying up that late, I’ve booked Monday off work to recover!

“I’ll sleep as long as I can on Sunday and I’ll go to the pub to watch the Liverpool match, then have a few mates back at mine and get a few pizzas and beers in.

“In terms of the matches I’m looking forward to most it has to be Taker versus Lesnar because you only see Taker fight once a year, so you make the most of it, and the match or matches that Daniel Bryan will take part in.

“He’s worked so hard this year and won over so many fans with his ‘yes’ chant. He’s brought so many mainstream followers to WWE and he deserves to come out on top and have his big WrestleMania moment.”

The Miz said: “Our fans in Merseyside are not going to need anything, all they’re going to need is WrestleMania 30!

“Then you’re going to be able to stay up because you’re going to see some of the most entertaining matches, the most incredible entrances you’ve ever seen in your life.”

“You are getting The Undertaker versus the beast Brock Lesnar - will the streak continue?

WWE Superstar The Undertaker makes his entrance at WrestleMania 20

“Not only that you have John Cena versus Bray Wyatt of the Wyatt Family, who have taken the entire WWE by storm.

“Then you have Triple H versus Daniel Bryan and whoever wins that gets to go in the main event of WrestleMania to take on the WWE World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton and Batista.

“Then there is the match I’m in, a 30-man over-the-top-rope battle royal, are you kidding me? I want that Andre trophy!”

Some fans are holding WrestleMania parties and donning fancy dress to emulate their heroes.

If the Reds’ manager Brendan Rodgers does allow his goal machine to stay up late, there is no doubt what costume Sturridge would be wearing.

He said: “It’s probably The Undertaker. I would go with the hair, the hat, the long jacket, probably wearing his wrestling pumps too.

“I would even wear the pants over the top of the trousers!”

WrestleMania 30 will be shown on Sky Box Office at midnight on Sunday, April 6.